Wannabe Wednesday: Z Edition

In case you missed it, this little blog has gone viral…and not in that “Please don’t sneeze on me.” kinda way. From Tumblr to Imgur to countless awesome other pages to Reddit and Buzzfeed, the world is digging eco fashion in a major way! :)

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing this blog over the years. I got a little misty eyed when I saw all the new “likes”, followers, and comments (Well…at least those that weren’t calling me fugly scum anywho). Seriously. THANK YOU. :) I’m sending you all virtual hugs right now. :)

I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate all this new press than with a new refashion! :)

I’ve kind of hinted about this but…there’s this guy. This guy has kids. This guys took his kids thrifting after telling them about my blog, and they picked out a few pieces they wanted to see me refashion. This one was picked out by his 8-year-old daughter, whom I shall only refer to as “Z”.

Remember Gauchos?

Okay. I hated gauchos when they were in style and I’m certainly not any more fond of them now. Although…this pair had an interesting detail…

Ermagherd! It’s a POCKET!

Let’s all pause for a moment to contemplate the location of this pocket. I can just picture someone saying, “Oh wait…hold on a sec while I reach all the way down my leg to get something out of my pocket!” I decided I needed that pocket right where it would actually come in handy. I turned these gauchos inside-out and hopped in one of the legs, like so:

See where I’m going with this?

I used a safety pin to mark where I needed the new top of my future dress to end so it would stay up on me.

Riiiight here!

I took my future dress/current gauchos off and pinned it in a gradual line from where I had initially marked it with the safety pin.

See?

I stitched along the pinned line…

Whirrrrrrr!

…and now I have a sassy new cocktail dress!

Sassy!

…and it still has a pocket! :)

Pocket Power!

I think my frock looks every bit as nice as this one from Dressale.com!

I found your blog from a tumblr post that started nice but ended ugly. I decided to check out your blog for myself and you have truly inspired me to learn to use my sewing machine and refashion my own finds. Thank you for your blog and amazing ideas.

I came in from Imgur, The post was wonderfully full of compliments from a lot of people. I had to see more. Because of this glorious woman, I’ve been inspired to not only make myself a dress form (using the duct tape method), but I’ve bought a sewing machine and intend to start slow and learn, using her as my spirit guide.

WOW is right. I can’t believe some of the things you do . This one is fantastic. I think I’d better tackle cleaning out my sewing room so I can work in it. Thanks for all the inspiration. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

This is a great refash. I particularly like how the texture of the fabric swoops towards your bare shoulder. It looks comfy and sexy and I bet Z is thrilled that you so successfully used her pick.

I found your blog last week because someone pinned one of your refashes on Pinterest. You’ve inspired me to pin inspiration pictures for my own future refashes. I have a few t-shirt dresses that are very sadly lacking pockets so I’m starting small but I’m still excited.

“(Well…at least those that weren’t calling me fugly scum anywho)”? Someone had the nerve to call you that? If you don’t like what someone looks like or you don’t like something someone did; just keep your mouth shut! Why do people feel that it’s okay to post such mean things? What about the old saying “If you can’t say something nice; don’t say anything at all”?

Haters be hatin’ cause you can sew like a mad woman, refash like a fiend, are tiny enough to wrap around a finger and you’re cute to boot!!!

This refash is one of my favorites. You’re such an inspiration to so many of us. The haters just need to back off before your fans wrap them in polyester and sew them all together….what a nice refash that would be!

Yeah I agree. Why do they even read the blog if they don’t like it or Jillian? It really baffles me that some people would even stoop so low as to criticise her and attack her when they don’t know her personally. Are people THAT mean, that jealous, and that unhappy with themselves and their lives? Honestly, it’s just a little ol’ refash site lol. I wish the idiots would just go away!

On a brighter note – I love the refashions you are doing Jillian and love your posts. You add a little bit of sun in an overly cold day (It’s winter here in Australia and it’s bloody freezing).

I found your blog through bored panda and absolutely love it. I’ve shared it with all of my fashion-interested friends. It’s inspired me to pull a never used sewing machine out the dust to try my hand at some refashioning. I’ve also signed up for a sewing class.

I never saw where this was going. I thought gauchos were basically hopeless. So cute! Also, if you get negative comments, it means you’re successful enough to get attention from total strangers! It’s the next level.

I have to say how talented and inspiring you are! And Please(!) do not pay any attention to hateful people. They are just jealous of your talent, thriftiness, and cuteness. LOL I am proud to be one of your followers. You rock it.

I’ve been following your blog for a while now. In fact, I started sewing lessons, so I too can Refashion! Congratulations on the new press. But, I cannot believe they left the Gala Dress off. That was such an amazing transformation. However, today’s refashion is a close second place for me. Congratulations, you deserve all the good things coming your way.

Fugly WHAT? You’re such a beautiful person in and out, why would they say such a thing?! They’re just super jealous of your skills, like they say, “Haters gonna hate”. Just to let you know, your blog has actually inspired me to learn how to sew and refab my old larger-sized clothes rather than buying new stuff. So far, I got the machine turned on and managed to roughly mend a ripped seam without major injury, so I’m getting there. :-)

Love this rehash! Wish I had your figure to carry it off. Love that you are getting some very well deserved good press. Try not to let the negative comments get to you… those of us that actually follow your blog, or anyone that has taken a moment to read any of your writing know just how genuine you are. You inspire many people on a very regular basis. Thank you.

What a great blog! A friend of mine sent me your link. I have been repurposing thrift finds for years, the latest being two baby tutu dresses from women’s skirts. I also repurpose old jewelry. I get bogged down sometimes with what to do with a piece, especially if I’ve just bought it because I loved the fabric.

You definitely look at garments in a “new” way (to me anyway). I am 55 and was shopping in thrift stores before it was the cool thing to do. My blog is http://www.melodyejoy.wordpress.com.

Keep doing what you’re doing!! This 55-year-old will be drawing inspiration from you!!

I really can’t get behind this. I honest to God can’t. You’re taking plus sized clothes out of thrift store circulation and sizing them down to you, then throw them back into the thrift store cycle again. It’d be one thing if you were refashioning these pieces to keep, or for people making requests but seriously consider who you are exempting from your market because of your handiwork. I have a hard enough time finding clothes that aren’t worn completely out, fashionable or not. Please don’t encourage the already small limit of where I can shop with your now viral DIY :(

I am plus sized, and your comment is rude, why are you here? Just move on and don’t come back, no need to be negative. Geesh. And I’m not interested in your replies, so I won’t be reading it, if you reply. But your comment was too rude to not call you out.

OMG! AGAIN?! I honest to God can’t believe this is being debated again. I had this whole reply typed out but decided against posting it as I was stooping to your level of rudeness and negativity. But I do want to ask you this: had you of seen these Gauchos would you have seriously bought them to wear in public? Because the way I see it is if they were donated to goodwill in the first place then a plus sized lady obviously had the good sense to no longer wear them! And if that’s the case then what’s the harm in your petite sized sisters making use of and wearing them?!

Just be kind, happy and don’t sweat the small stuff. Sheesh.

And like Jennifer stated, I too am not interested in your replies. Find an alternate blog that better suits your lifestyle.

Huh? You’re actually mad someone (who cares what size) got a thrift-store find before you and had the audacity to use it (for who cares what)? Thrift stores are treasure chests for everyone, and she’s making them small because she wears them, too! Just like you could tailor some larger clothes to your size. I do this all the time with men’s sweaters. (Uh, oh. Now I’ve taken a perfectly-good sweater away from a man that needed it for his next holiday gathering!)

One does not have to take only plus sized clothes to refashion them. The vast majority of items I’ve refashioned over the last…hmmm, almost 30yrs now…have been in my own size. In fact I think the majority of clothes on this blog are NOT plus size I’m going by the Australian definition of plus size here) Have a think about how tiny Jillian is…

Just because you only see her wear it once on her blog, it doesn’t mean she never wears it again. Why shouldn’t she buy it and refashion it? She has as much a right to buy the clothes she wants as anyone else does. Everyone complains that they can’t find clothes in their size. It’s not just a plus-size issue. I’m not plus-size, but I often can’t find clothes in my size. However, I do not go to someone’s refashion blog and blame them for not being able to find clothes that fit me.

Oh dear, lovedless! I’m sorry you find it hard to op-shop but we have an expression in NZ…get a grip!
Jillian is not depriving you by rescuing hideous clothes, there are plenty out there for all of us. I am a tall woman with long legs and great big chesticles, and I seldom buy new. if I can find great op-shop finds so can you. :)
This refashion is inspired!

Then go to the thrift store, buy something out of the dollar bin and make something for yourself. That’s the whole point! Her blog is meant to be inspirational, like a tutorial, not malevolently “stealing” clothes from your size pool. There is nothing stopping you from doing this same thing!

Jeez…go be a negative nelly somewhere else. There’s enough negativity in the world, and believe me, there is PLENTY of clothing left for you to buy. As if…should she have left these gouchos in the $1 bin in case someone else wanted to buy them?? That’s the most brainless thing I’ve ever heard.

Dude. Quit sucking the fun out of my life space. These size LARGE (as in NOT PLUS SIZED) pants were picked out for me by an 8-year-old kid. Are you going to accuse her of “thin privilege” now? Lighten up.

Maybe Lovedless should take a leaf out of your book…go get a heap of “small” clothing, put them together and make something to suit her shape? I’m sure all the ‘skinny minnies’ won’t have a problem with her taking all their sizes! ! Use the blog as it is intended. ..to INSPIRE! Geesh…

I suppose when I tell you that I buy stuff at the thrift store to refashion in to doll clothes, you’re going to have a full out hissy fit! Or how about the t-shirt I bought to turn in to a “thunder shirt” for my dog. As someone else said, get a grip. Mean people suck.

So glad that you liked the idea! My mom did that years ago, she used to make elegant Barbie clothing to sell and so much of the evening gown type material was so expensive, she would go to a thrift shop and buy an old prom gown and cut it up. In fact, my wedding gown was worn by Barbie’s all over the US, it had a bit of an accident and would never be worn again so she cut it up and “recycled”.

Hey! Instead of getting rapturously angry, why don’t you make small clothes big? Check out this blog, it should help you http://fat-hacked.tumblr.com/
Anyone can buy clothes in thrift stores and do whatever the hell they want. These clothes are ugly and old. Nobody wants them, and it’s her money she’s spending. You can spend your money on clothes that don’t fit you.

That’s how retail works. First come, first served. One of my friends recently bought a real Luis Vuitton bag for $4 because the old thrift store lady didn’t recognize the brand, only to sell it on ebay for over $100. Was I mad? A little. A genuine LV bag is something I could NEVER afford. Hell, even the fake ones are expensive! But that’s how retail works. My friend got their first, so she got the item.

And thrift stores are usually not-for-profit organizations who donate all of their proceeds to charity, so they WANT people to buy their items. They want to move as many items as possible so that their charities can get more money. Many thrift stores barely make a profit in this day and age, what with the rise of cheap chain stores like K-mart, the expensive rent they must pay for store space, and the money they must spend to send un-sellable stock and literal garbage (yes, there are assholes who “donate” actual garbage to thrift stores) to landfill. So there is nothing wrong with what Refashionista is doing. She is not only giving money to charities, but she is also recycling old/unfashionable clothing, AND helping thrift stores move stock.

You know, you (or anyone else, for that matter) are not entitled to anything simply because it exists. It’s in a store, she is purchasing it and she has the right to do with it whatever she chooses. The fact that she’s refashioning these things and returning them to circulation is amazing, and probably one of the most kind, charitable things a person could do.

I also shop at thrift stores and purchase plus-sized and larger-sized clothing, but unlike her, I use them for myself and my family. Because fabric is so pricey anymore – and good fabric is near-unaffordable – thrifting and repurposing larger-sized clothes is about the only way I can indulge in my hobby. I feel no regret for “removing” those clothes from circulation. I paid for them, and if I wanted to set them on fire, it’s my right. And I selfishly keep nearly everything I buy!

You and the other dissenters seem to think that by merely being plus-sized, you deserve first dibs on anything in your size. You don’t. If you don’t like the selection of clothes available to you, then do something to change that: learn to sew your own clothes. She is not the problem; your entitled attitude is.

She gets most of these clothes for a dollar, which means they’ve been in the store for a while & no one has bought them. They’re destined for a landfill if no one is willing to spend even a dollar on them.

Let me just add that as a plus sized person who regularly shops at thrift stores–you are full of sh*t. I’ve found plenty of very nice clothing that is lightly worn as well as many pieces with the tags still on. My closet it SO full at the moment I need to do a purge–want me to mail it to you? Something tells me that what I have wouldn’t be good enough for you either. You just want to be Debby Downer here (I suspect that all the negative posts on here are all the same person too), you’re just jealous that someone thought of something you didn’t. “Stupid is as stupid does.”

I saw you on Buzzfeed and was all like, “Hey! That’s one of my goto blogs! Wayyy cool.” I don’t remember how I found you as I’m not a sewer, but I have recommended you to my sewer friends/family. (Why dies that look like sewer and not sew-er?). Congrats on all the new followers! You rock!

There are 4 things awesome about this post:
1. You’ve give viral. Well deserved, congratulations!
2. That refash is your best ever. Brilliant!
3. There’s this *guy*! I hope he’s everything you deserve. (Ie wonderful and lovely…not a psycho. That read really wrong)
4. This guy has kids! Oh with the rolling around pissing myself!

Ok, I am late to the Refashionista party — I was carried along in your blog going viral but can I just say (as multitudes before me have undoubtedly said) that you are a TRUE inspiration. I love your creativity, your sensibility, your chutzpah. I almost want to cry that I am utterly, completely and totally devoid of ANY ability with a sewing machine. But oh, how I love to see others who are gifted in this area! I was the little girl who sewed the super-glittery Christmas tree ornament to the skirt of her Brownie uniform. More recently, I tried to hem a dress with Stitch Witchery and OMG what a mess. I ended up having to get it fixed for $20.

What your blog (I am obsessively reading all your past posts — this is a binge situation) brings to me is the inspiration to use thrift store clothes as the starting point for changes that I can pay someone else to do. I have a good eye, that is one thing I do have, and I think I will be able to spot where this is justified, especially if I get the item for a good price.

I can’t tell you enough how much it thrills me to see such creativity come to life. Thank you!!!

1. Your blog leaves other “refashioners” & the like way behind. You’ve consistently shown that there’s many more interesting tricks to making an new dress than just chopping off the sleeves & taking up the hem.
2. A guy with kids is an interesting journey… I’ve done it and survived to tell the tale, not without a bumpy path along the way.
3. If this guy has kids who are into thrifting & refashioning, I say LUCKY YOU!!! You’re in with a big chance.

I have been going through this blog since I found it this week! I love all your creative ideas and the little snippets of your life you share. It’s all so inspiring!! I’m so happy for your new found popularity. You’re so sweet and quirky. Keep up the great work!!

I so love what you do…you are the most creative and effective refashionista I have found! But let’s face it, you have a rocking little figure and can fit in a lot of sizes to refashion and there are lots of people that can’t so… can you point me in a direction of someone a little ~eh hem~ bigger that is even remotely close to as good as you please? (I have looked.)

Hopping into one leg of the gauchos – cracked me up! Especially since I wouldn’t fit anyway. And the dress is amazing! Never mind the haters. For Heaven’s sake, I also refashion clothing and I have to say that there are PLENTY of clothing in ALL sizes in the thrift stores I’ve visited all over the world!

You rock!!! So I happy I found out about you on Distractify. I’ve always wanted to spend more time sewing my own clothes, but this is such a great way to be creative with existing clothes. All I need now is a sewing machine.

Pants turned in to a dress just by slipping in to one of the legs is hilarious, but clever. I actually saw a woman who did this with basketball shorts and it looks ridiculous. This one works though. Oh, and if people are leaving you mean comments just to be mean I’m sure we can all get together and beat them up. Apparently plenty of people think you’re just the bees knees.

Reeeeeally nice! I did NOT expect that one :-)
I love the idea of your blog, but am often a little disappointed by what appears to be yet another giant tent, taken in and generally trimmed. Not that I dislike them, it’s just not always overly applicable to me – at 5’10” and from healthy-ish to curvy-ish clothes from charity shops / thrift stores / op-shops rarely swamp me like they do you. I don’t benefit from generous swathes of fabric. Hey-ho.
But I sooooooo never guessed the punchline to this one. WELL DONE!!! xx

WOW! That is clever and beautiful! Not only does my 45 yr old self approve, but my 9yr old fashionista gives two thumbs up ( and she is much more reliable in the fashion dept).
On a side note, we just relocated from Irmo, SC to Prague, Czech Republic, so I don’t know if that will look weird on your security settings. Just FYI.

Darling! I Mean You And The dress. It Does Help That You’re Tiny Enough To Fit Into One Pant Leg :)
This Reminds Me Of The Jeans Dress Kelly Clarkson Wore On Her First Audition Of American Idol…Look It Up.
BTW, I Found Your site Today on Viral Nova Through Facebook…Much Success!

Congrats on having your blog go viral – fantastic news! I have to say – this dress is the BOMB – on your cute little figure this is AMAHZING! Super super cute, nicely chosen Z – and good luck on your new squeeze :)

OK, I just have to say WOW! I read a lot of blogs, but yours is probably my favorite and I ALWAYS read it! Plus, you inspire me to refashion my own clothes… I cannot do what you did to the gauchos, but there is hope for many other things. Wore a top today that was refashioned and I got compliments on it. Thank you for being such a great inspiration!

Wow Jillian you are amazing,that is so cool I have to say when I saw the first photo of the gaucho’s I thought you’d be stumped on this one,lol,great job.I’ve been following you for years now and love your refashions,I refashion all the time too ,you are such an inspiration and love your sweet Douglas he is such a cutie-pie :)

Ignore the haters! They are just jealous because you are so talented and cute. I stumbled on your blog about a year ago, and you have inspired not only me but my daughter. We went “thrifting” a couple months ago, and she has 6 outfits she is going to refashion based on your blog. Every time we go to a thrift store now, she pulls out dresses and says “this is something Jillian would refashion.”

Keep up the good work! And woot woot for your mystery guy and his girls! They are so lucky to have you in their lives.

I think I found you via BoredPanda? Or something that someone shared on my wall because I am a maker/sewer/refashioner and they thought I’d find inspiration from you. I’ve learned never to read comments below anything because they either turn nasty, political or both.

This dress is FAB. Like, I can’t believe how awesome it is.
Congrats on your new found fame! ;)

Great redo. I knew what you would do right when you turned it inside out. I just got my first sewing machine and I can’t wait to use it. Although I am quite a bit heavier than you, I’ll have to be really creative. Keep up the great work!

Just found this today. I could not wear this dress because I can act immature and would spend the whole time giggling because I was wearing only pants haha. Great job though…never would have imagined gouchos as a dress!

I’m sitting here, laughing out loud, at what a trip you are! Only YOU would have come up with such a crazy/creative idea and been able to not just carry it off, but to totally rock it….HA! Aaannnd I like yours SO much more than the $109 dress……great job.

Congrats Jillian! I saw the Buzzfeed feature pop up in my Facebook feed and started squealing with delight. I’m so glad they picked up your blog! You deserve the recognition. I always love seeing what you come up with. Oh…and by the way…this one is awesome. You always pull off an amazing renovation of fabric. Cheers!!

The thing that I don’t understand is how you can look at those awful pants and see a darling dress. I went to the thrift store yesterday and looked at old clothing and couldn’t see it as anything else. You have a gift to be able to see the hidden beauty of what things can become. I don’t know how you come up with your ideas, but you are one creative lady.

Ha, the other day my hubby was telling me about this blog I needed to check out. I said “is it refashionista, because I’m already in that”. While I may not like every refashion (we cant love everything) that you do I still appreciate what you are doing for the sewing community as well as thrift stores.

I thought for sure you were finally doing some pants! lol I love it, the asymmetrical one shoulder dress is a great look to make from a pair of pants. I wonder if that’s how the trend started anyway? You have a sleeve! Just one, though. Maybe take a pair of pants and make them into a shrug for all the lovely dresses you make?

Hi there, I absolutely live your blog. I’m a mature student in Wales and being short of cash these wonderful revamps are just what I need. I’m currently on the look out for a sewing machine so I can get creative. Love your style, creativity and personality, keep going Hun xxx

First of all, you are amazing, and I wish everything looked as good on me as it does on you :-) Secondly, thanks for the inspiration! I went to a thrift store yesterday because of you, and bought a dress and two shorts which I farmed for materials and made into two adorable new dresses for my twin toddlers and a skirt for me! Each item would normally cost around $30 each on the department store rack, but I bought the thrift clothes “material” for$15 total. Woot woot! Thanks-Kelly

That’s awesome! Sometimes I wish I had kids just so I could make clothes for them. But that seems like a terrible reason to procreate. ;) Did you make matching dresses for your little tykes? I’d love to see ’em!

So blessed to have discovered your blog via BuzzFeed (and a friend who sent me the BuzzFeed link). You are inspiring (and funny, too!). I may actually purchase a sewing machine and take on these projects. I have always loved thrift shopping, and often see potential in items that don’t fit or are out-of-date in silhouette. And there have been a couple of times that I’ve taken pieces to a tailor for re-fashioning, but it never occurred to me to challenge myself and DIY it. Thank you for the inspiration. You’re the best!

Those who are calling you “fugly scum” are insecure This is Thin Privilege, Fat Activists, Health At Every Size and Social Justice Warrior loons. They’re bitter and envious of your body and your skills. Apparently you bought the “few” clothes that’s available in their size. They remind me of Cinderella’s stepsisters after Cinderella showed them her ball gown.

To those obese women complaining on Tumblr:

– The blogger has the right to buy any clothes she wishes with her own money. Even if it’s the only plus size dress and there was a fat woman besides her, if she got to it first, it’s hers to buy. It is NOT up to you to tell people what they can and cannot buy. How would you feel if others tell you that you can’t buy straight-sized clothes?

– This is her hobby that she benefits her and the people she know. It’s laughable to expect her to make clothing for fat strangers, particularly for free. Take your own advice; stop being lazy, buy some fabric and make clothes for yourself, instead of expecting others to make them for you.

– It’s difficult to refashion clothes if there’s not enough material. The blogger looks quite petite. It’s likely the clothes she refashions aren’t so large, and perhaps still within the straight sizes. Regardless, these are clothes that the original owners didn’t want. The fat lady did not want the ugly dress any more.

– She’s not posing in the before picture to ridicule fat people. She poses in such a way to display what it looks like fully, and how too large and unappealing it is on her.

– She may be able to shop in most clothing stores, but can she afford it? Perhaps not. What she is doing is financially responsible, eco-friendly, gives new lease of life to old things, and supports small businesses.

Here comes the next wave of viral! Saw you on GMA this morning and you have reawakened the creative girl inside of me. Long ago, I adapted a tree skirt into a holiday outfit when I was about 12. Then I lost my vision, but “now I see”! As a plus size, I can’t belt dresses as easily, so I’ll have to figure something out. Nevertheless, thank you for making me look forward to sewing again!

[ I do the same thing, have for years]
Example; I am tall, bought a dress at yard sale, way to short for me, although it fit on top,
cut it off just a bit, slit it up about 10 inches, about 6 times, stitched slits, wore this top ‘over’ a long flowing 8 panel skirt, that I have previously sewn, The skirt is a deep purple, the ‘new’ top had splashes of purple flowers on white back ground. Still to this day, am getting compliments on outfit !